Treadmill

Abstract

A treadmill comprises a base, a pair of spaced rollers, an endless belt, a control panel, and a forward post. The rollers are journalled in the base. One of the rollers constitutes a rear roller and the other roller constitutes a forward roller spaced forward of the rear roller. The belt is entrained around the rollers. The belt includes an upper reach extending between the rollers and adapted to enable a user to walk or run thereon. The forward post is configured for at least in part supporting the control panel. The post has a lower end margin and an upper end margin The lower end margin is operatively connected to the base and is spaced forward of the forward roller. The upper end margin of the post is configured for supporting the control panel. The post has an arcuately shaped bend extending from its lower end margin to its upper end margin. The bend of the post has a concave surface portion facing generally rearwardly and extending from the lower end margin of the post to the upper end margin of the post.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A treadmill comprising: a base;   a pair of spaced rollers journalled in the base, one of the rollers constituting a rear roller and the other roller constituting a forward roller spaced forward of the rear roller;   an endless belt entrained around the rollers, the endless belt including an upper reach extending between the rollers and adapted to enable a user to walk or run thereon;   a control panel;   a forward post configured for at least in part supporting the control panel, the post having a lower end margin and an upper end margin, the lower end margin being operatively connected to the base and spaced forward of the forward roller, the upper end margin being configured for supporting the control panel, the post having an arcuately shaped bend extending from its lower end margin to its upper end margin, the bend of the post having a concave surface portion facing generally rearwardly and extending from the lower end margin of the post to the upper end margin of the post, at least part of the upper end margin of the forward post being positioned directly above the forward roller.   
     
     
       2. A treadmill as set forth in claim 1 wherein the post comprises a tube with a polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
       3. A treadmill as set forth in claim 1 wherein the post comprises a tube with a generally rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
       4. A treadmill as set forth in claim 1 wherein the arcuately shaped bend of the post extends generally from the lower end of the post to the upper end of the post. 
     
     
       5. A treadmill as set forth in claim 1 wherein the concave surface portion extends generally from the lower end of the post to the upper end of the post. 
     
     
       6. A treadmill as set forth in claim 1 wherein the post is pivotally connected to the base for movement of the post between an upright position in which the concave surface portion faces generally rearwardly and a stowed position in which the control panel is positioned adjacent the upper reach of the belt. 
     
     
       7. A treadmill comprising: a base;   a pair of spaced rollers journalled in the base, one of the rollers constituting a rear roller and the other roller constituting a forward roller spaced forward of the rear roller;   an endless belt entrained around the rollers, the endless belt including an upper reach extending between the rollers and adapted to enable a user to walk or run thereon;   a handle bar having an upper portion and first and second side portions, the upper portion being positioned above the upper reach of the endless belt, the side portions extending from the upper portion to the base and having lower ends operatively connected to the base on opposite sides of the upper reach and generally between the forward and rear rollers, each side portion of the handle bar having an arcuately shaped bend extending at least three-fourths of the length of such side portion.   
     
     
       8. A treadmill as set forth in claim 7 wherein the arcuately shaped bend of each side portion extends generally from the lower end of its corresponding side portion to the upper portion of the handle bar. 
     
     
       9. A treadmill as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a control panel generally adjacent the upper portion of the handle bar and supported at least in part by the handle bar. 
     
     
       10. A treadmill as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a forward post, the post having a lower end margin and an upper end margin, the lower end margin being operatively connected to the base and spaced forward of the forward roller, the control panel being supported at least in part by the post and being positioned generally adjacent the upper end margin of the post. 
     
     
       11. A treadmill as set forth in claim 10 wherein the post has an arcuately shaped bend extending from its lower end margin to its upper end margin. 
     
     
       12. A treadmill as set forth in claim 11 wherein the bend of the post has a concave surface portion facing generally rearwardly and extending from the lower end of the post to the upper end of the post. 
     
     
       13. A treadmill as set forth in claim 10 wherein the post is pivotally connected to the base for movement of the post between an upright and a stowed position in which the control panel is positioned adjacent the upper reach of the belt. 
     
     
       14. A treadmill as set forth in claim 13 wherein the handle bar is pivotally connected to the base for movement between an upright position and a stowed position in which the upper portion of the handle bar is positioned forward of the forward roller. 
     
     
       15. A treadmill comprising: a base;   a pair of spaced rollers journalled in the base, one of the rollers constituting a rear roller and the other roller constituting a forward roller spaced forward of the rear roller;   an endless belt entrained around the rollers, the endless belt including an upper reach extending between the rollers and adapted to enable a user to walk or run thereon;   a control panel;   a forward post configured for at least in part supporting the control panel, the post having a lower end margin and an upper end margin, the lower end margin being operatively connected to the base and spaced forward of the forward roller, the upper end margin being configured for supporting the control panel, the post having an arcuately shaped bend extending from its lower end margin to its upper end margin, the bend of the post having a concave surface portion facing generally rearwardly and extending from the lower end margin of the post to the upper end margin of the post, at least part of the upper end margin of the forward post being positioned over the forward roller; and   a handle bar having an upper portion and first and second side portions, the upper portion being positioned generally adjacent the upper end margin of the forward post, the side portions extending from the upper portion to the base and having lower ends operatively connected to the base on opposite sides of the upper reach of the endless belt and generally between the forward and rear rollers.   
     
     
       16. A treadmill as set forth in claim 15 wherein each side portion of the handle bar has an arcuately shaped bend extending generally from its lower end to the upper portion of the handle bar. 
     
     
       17. A treadmill as set forth in claim 15 wherein each side portion of the handle bar has an arcuately shaped bend extending at least three-fourths of the length of such side portion. 
     
     
       18. A treadmill as set forth in claim 17 wherein the upper portion and first and second side portions constitute a single monolithic piece.